Cleaning attachment for water-tube boilers.



E. STEPHENSON.

CLEANING ATTAGHMENT FOR WATER TUBE BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED $33.4, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

IN VENTURQ diam/mu -WITNES' SEIS- ANDREW a saw/m ca PNUTQHTHQGRAWERS.WASHYNGION. D c

EDWARD STEPHENSON, 013 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR WATER-TUBE BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Application filed February 4, 1909. Serial No. 476,033.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD STEPHEN- SON, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at the city and in the county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clean ing Attachments for ater-Tube Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

The hereinafter described invention relates to an improved means whereby the water circulating tubes of a water tube boiler may be cleaned to remove accumulation therefrom while the boiler is in use, thereby avoiding the necessity of having to place the boiler out of commission during the operation of scraping and cleaning the water circulating tubes to free the tubes of the scale formed thereon.

Ordinarily, the cleaning of the tubes of a water tube boiler is a somewhat laborious piece of work and likewise an expensive one, for before the tubes can be successfully cleaned it is necessary to draw off the boiler, thus placing the boiler out of service until after the tubes have been thoroughly cleaned. the expense incident to the re-heating of the same for steaming purposes, that renders it almost impossible to daily clean out the water circulating tubes, and more especially is such the case where the boilers are used for maritime purposes; hence where the boilers are employed for marine purposes it is customary to permit the boil ers to remain in commission until the vessel reaches port, before giving the water circulating tubes of the boiler a thorough cleaning, the result being that the tubes are maintained in use while in a fouled condition and the circulation of the water materially impeded.

The object of the present invention is the providing of means whereby the water circulating tubes may be scraped or cleaned daily and while the boiler is in commission or for the purpose of generating steam, it not being required to draw off the boiler for the purpose of cleaning the tubes as heretofore.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Figure l is a vertical sectional View of an ordinary water tube boiler of the Heine type, partly broken away, with the improved cleaning means applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an It is this non-use of the boiler and enlarged detail sectional View of one of the water circulating tubes with the cleaning or scraping tool partly inserted therein, the headers or water legs to which said tubes are united being broken away.

In the drawings is illustrated a solid header water tube boiler, of the Heine type of boiler, applicable for either land or marine purposes, the front and rear headers being designated respectively by the numerals 1-2, and 3 indicating the water circulating tubes connecting the said headers. lVhile, what is known as solid headers or water legs 1-2 are disclosed in the present case, it is obvious that the sectional headers may be employed, 2'. c. the headers of the well known Babcock & lVilcoX type of water tube boilers.

In the outer wall of the front header 1, opposite each water circulating tube 3 is formed an opening or man-hole at, which is closed by the man-hole plate or cover 5. In the present case a hollow stud 6 is substituted for the usual solid stud projecting from the man-hole cover or plate 5, and the same screws into the said cover or plate 5, and extends through the foot piece 7. By means of the usual nut 8 working against the foot piece 7, the stud 6 is drawn outwardly to force the man-hole cover or plate 5 firmly onto its seat to close the man-hole opening 4.

Through each hollow stud 6 works or eX- tends a stem 9, which at its inner end portion carries a cleaning or scraping tool 10, which is of a diameter just suflicient to work within the tube 3. The outer face of the cleaning or scraping tool is slightly concaved, so as to seat snugly against the convexed face of the man-hole cover or plate 5 and prevent leakage through the hollow stud 6. To insure the cleaning or scraping tool 10 being drawn firmly onto and held against its seat, a tightening nut 11 may be screwed onto the outer screw-threaded end 12 of the stem 9. This screw-threaded end of the stem 9 is designed to receive a coupling extension or handle 13, which in length is slightly greater than that of the boiler.

When it is desired to clean one of the water circulating tubes, the nut 11 is removed from the stem 9 and the extension or handle 13 screwed or coupled onto the outer end of the said stem, when the operator forces the same inward to place the cleaning tool or scraper 10 into the tube 3,

the said tool or scraper being then forced back and forth the entire length of the tube, and during its inward movement removing the scale and accumulated matter from the inner surface of the tube and pushing the same into the rear header 2, from whence it discharges into the mud drum 1-"; of the boiler, to be blown off in the usual manner. To prevent the cleaning tool or scraper 1O dro aping from within the water circulating tube on the completion of its stroke inwardly toward the header 2, the inner end 15 of the stem 9 extends a distance beyond the face of the said tool or scraper equal to the depth of the rear header 2, so that the said end 15 strikes against the inner surface of the outer wall of said header 2 when the cleaning tool or scraper 10 has reached the limit of its said inward stroke, and the tool or scraper thus prevented from moving from ithin, or beyond the water circulating tube and dropping down into the rear header 2. Inasmuch as the scale and accumulated matter within the water circulating tubes is maintained in a somewhat soft or plastic condition during the working of the boiler, the removal thereof is a comparatively easy matter while the boiler is under steam and may be quickly displaced by the described means. After one water circulating tube has been thoroughly cleaned and the cleaning tool or scraper drawn back or outward its full distance, the extension coupling or handle 13 is detached and the said tool or scraper secured in place. The cleaning tool. or scraper of another water circulating tube is then released, the extension coupling or handle 13 connected to the stem thereof and the described operation repeated for the cleaning of said tube, and the same with the remaining water circulating tubes of the boiler. By the employment of the described cleaning means, the Water circulating tubes of the boiler may be cleaned once a day, and the tubes thus maintained in perfect working condition, thereby increasing the steaming efficiency of the boiler. The scale and surface accumulation is thus easily and quickly disposed of while in the best condition for easy removal, and this Without the expense incident to the requirement of having to place the boiler out of commission during the operation of the cleaning of the water circulating tubes.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be prothe tube, and a stem for the scraper adapted to pass through the passage 1n the stud of the manhole closure, said stem projecting beyond said scraper sutlicient to prevent the latter from moving beyond the tube, a part of the reciprocating scraper being formed to overlie adjoining portions of the manhole closure plate and stud to seal the space therebetween when the scraper is in inactive position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD STEPHENSON.

i Vitnesses N. A. AOKER, D. B. RICHARDS. 

